Safety cut-out for gas mains and the like



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,662

R. H. SHADRICK .SAFETY CUT-OUT FOR GAS MAINS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb 12. 1927 INVENTOR filcl/Anafimomcic ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1927 [UNITED STATES rATsnrorrrcs.- T

RICHARD H. snan'nrcn, or MINNEAPOLIS, rarnnnsora, risers-Non 'roANDREw "GARLSEMJOF.MINNEAPOLIS,:MINNESOTA.

SAFETY oU'r-oU'r ron GAS MAINS m1) II-IE LrKn.

Application filed. February 12, 1927. Serial N6. 167,760.

This invention relates to safety cut out devices for gasmainsand the like, and the primary object is to provide means of a novel, practical and efficient nature for closing a valve in a lead-in gas main to a building, thereby cutting off the supply of gas to the building in case of fire. The device is so constructed that it will, by a thermally responsive releasing means, be automatically actuated when influenced by the higher temperature of the burning building, and may also be manually actuated, when necessary, from a remote station, which is preferably arranged at the exterior of the building where it is quickly and readily accessible to firemen or others who may not be able to enter the building because of fire or smoke, or because the building may be unoccupied. The present disclosure is a continuation inpart of my co-pending application Ser. No. 60,632, filed October '5, 1925, and renewed December 31, 1926, for Valve-actuator; and has also some features in common with my co-pending application Ser. No.159,-350,filed January 6, 1927, for thermostatic control.

In the drawing forming a part of the present application, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a building or. foundation wall, and illustrating the preferred method ofinst'alling my improved safety cut.

out. Fig.2 is a sectional detail view of the actuator box as seen substantially on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the gas main and the safety valve, the latter being broken away in part, and also showing the actuator box in section about on i the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the actuator box, and illustrating the arrangement of parts therewithin. Fig. 5 is a detail section view illustrating the construction of the re mote station and one of thepulley elbows used to guide the actuator or pull cable.

' Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters A designates the wall of a building or building founda tion, through'which extends a gas main or supply pipe B. Suitably connected in the main B I provide a valve '0, the same being of a common and well known construction in which a valve head 6 is yieldingly pressed toward a seat 7, by a spring 8. The valve head 6 is provided with astem or pin 9' which projects out through a stuffing box in the neck 10 of the valve, The Valve is of course yiel'dably closable by thespring 8 but is adapted to be opened and held open bydepressing the pin 9. i

Rigidly secured to and carried by'the valve C is a box 11, the cover 12 of which is hinged, as at 13, and has a lever acting contact with the pin 9, whereby when the cover is closed or in its primary position the pin is -de pres'sed,1and when the cover is released and moves to its secondary position it allows the pinto project under the action of the spring8.

Secured. within the wall, and preferably 'to its rear wall, is a strip-"14, of what'is commonly known as" thermostatic metal the same-comprising two layers' of metal having di'lferent co-eiilcients of expansion, 7

whereby it will bend or be distorted under variable thermal conditions, The lower end of this strip 14 issecured, as by screws 15, to the'box, and, is preferably in direct contact therewith so as to be sensitive tothe temperatureof the box, which, in'turn, is influenced by the surrounding atmosphere. Torender the thermal strip more sensitive to the atmospheric temperature, however, it may be desirable to provide the upper and lower ends of the box with perforations, such as 16, thuspermitting a circulation of air through the box and in direct contact with theTstliPJ The uppelnend of the strip '14 is "spaced from the wall to which it is at tached, so as to allow for freedom of movement, and this spacing may be adjusted by a regulating screw 17 having alock nut 18.

Suitably pivoted, as by a pin 19, within the box 11,, is a trigger or lever 20, having a rearwardly extending arm-21, for engagement against the upper end of the strip 14, a forwardly extending hook 22, and a depending lug'23. The door 12 is provided with an angle iron bracket 24, the projecting armfof' which has a recess 25 to receive the hook 22 when the door-is closed.

Normally, the parts described are in the positions shown in the drawing. VVhen the temperature of the box increases or rises, however, the thermal'strip 14 bends-or distorts so that its upper end moves towardthe rear wall. This releases the lever arm 21, and the door 12, being under the pressure of th spring 8, trips the hook 22 upwardly to release the bracket 24, and thus permits the door to swing open, allowing the valve to close andshut off the gas suply. The lever conditionsto influence the strip 1ft for re- 20 has now assumed the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig.'3. When the fire is extinguished, or the danger oflfire has passed, audit is desired to restore thegas supply, it is only necessary to shut the door 12. This depresses the pin 9, to open the valve, and as the bracketarm strikes the lug 23, it moves it rearwardly,

includes all the elements thus far described,

but it does not depend upon temperature leasingthe trigger lever 20.

Secured, asf by screws 26, upon an inner ible ,lever 27, the upper or movable end of which is provided with a right angle extension 28. The rear edge of this extension is cutiat an angle with respect to the plane of tamperlng.

the". stripli, and contacts withthis strip in such a manner that when the upper end of the spring is moved away from the adjacent wall, the angled edge of the extension 28 will exert a cam acting pressure againstthe thermal strip so as to sprlng lts upper end.

rearwardand thus release'the lever arm 21. The movement thus described is effected by a suitable cable 29, which extendsjout through the opposite side wall ofthe box and thr ugh suitable pipe'or conduit 30to the pull station D. Elbows 31, in such piping, are preferably rovided with pulleys 32, for guiding the calile. l

The station D comprises a small box 33 having a door 34;, which may either have a glass window which may be broken to gain access, or may be provided with a lock 35, which can only be opened by authorized persons such as householders, policemen or firemen. Within the box the end of the cable 29 is provided with a suitable terminal member such as a. pull rin 36, which is of course the function of the box to properlyhouse and protect. l i

It may here be noted that'all the mechanism. is either substantially enclosed or forms a part of the enclosing structure, thus leaving no parts exposed which can be upset or disturbed either accidentally or by This is particularly true and of great importance in connection with the box 12, as itcontains the most delicate and sensitive parts, and, as it exposes no working parts, it presents little temptation for tarnpering by persons who might be so'inclined,

and who might easily disturb the properadi justments, and might possibly render the device inoperative.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the general design and structural. detailsofthe invention as side wall of the box 11, is a spring or fiexherein shown and described, provided, how

' ever, that said modificationscome within the a spirit and scope of the appended claims. l

Having now therefore fully shown and de scribed my invention, whatI claim-to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent The combination of a yieldingly clos- 1 i:

ablevalve having a projecting valve stem, a

box carried by the. valve and having a door which when closed will depress the valve stem to hold the valve open, means carried which when closed will depress thevalve stem to hold the valve open, said door being means, contained within thebox, for releasing the. door, said thermally responsive means normally maintaining the valve closed, and manually operated means,.adapted to be controlled from ai'einot'e oina'ibr releasing the door i i Q 3. The combination including, a valve, means tending to close f thevalve, a lever memberv for releasably holding the valve releasably held closed, thermally responsive.

open, a latch mechanism for releasably hold- 5 ing the lever memberwiththe; valve in an open posltion, thermally IQSPODSIVQ means, ad acent to the latch mechan sm, for holding the same in an engagement with the lever member and adapted to release thelatch mechanism from the lever member when subjected to an increase in temperature of a determined degree. j a y y i,

4:. The combination including a .valve, means tending to close the valve, a lever member for releasably holding. the valve open, a latch mechanism for releasably holdingthe lever member with the valve in an open position, thermally responsive means, adjacent to the latch mechanism,iorhold ing the same in engagement with'the lever member and adapted to release the latch mechanism from the lever member when subjected to a predetermined temperature, and manual means, operative at apoint remote from the valve, for releasing the latch mechanism from the lever member. I V

5. The combination, including a valve, means tending to close thevalve, a lever member for releasably holding the valve open, a latch mechanism for releasably holding the levermember with the valve in an open posltl on, thermally responsive means,

adjacent to thelatch mechanism, for holdnames 7 ing the same in an engagement "with the lever member and adapted to release the latch mechanism-Efrem the lever member when subjected to a predetermined-temperature, and 'manualaneans, operative at a point remote from the valve, tor 'i'eleasir rg the lever member to permitohe valve to close.

'6. The, combination including a valve,

means tending to close the valve, a lever member fonreleasably holding the valve open, a latch mechanism for releasably holding the lever member with the valve in an open position, thermally "responsive means, adjacent to the latch mechanism, 'for bold-- ing the same in an engagement with the lever member and adapted to release the latch mechanism fromthe/levermember when subjected to a predeterminedtemperature, and m-anualmeans, operative at a point remote from the valve, for disengaging the thermally responsive meanstrom the latch member mechanism to thereby release the lever member .and' permit the valve to close.

7. The'combination of a spring closable valve, a box arranged adjacent to the valve and having a hinged door, which, when closed, will hold the valve open, means with in the'box tor releasably holding the door closed, thermally responsive means, also contained within the box, for normally maintaining said door holding means in its operative position and adapted to trip said meanswhen subjected to a predetermined temperature, and manually operative means for releasing the door, irrespective of temperature conditions.

8. The combination with a valve having a projecting valve stem, ofa box rigidly carried by the valve and having a movable portion adapted to hold the valve open, when in its primary position, and to permit the valve to close, when in its secondary position; a retainer for releasably engaging the said movable portion when in its primary position, and manual and thermally responsive means for respectively effecting the disengagement of the retainer from the said movable portion to permit a movement of the latter to its secondary position.

9. A safety device fora gas main, comprising a valve in said main, means tending to close the valve, a lever acting member adapted to open the valve, thermostatically releasable means for holding the member with the valve in its open position, said means being operative at a degree of temperature which is lower than that which wouldfuse any of its parts, and a manually operable device controlled from a point remote from the valve, for effecting the release of the member.

10. A safety cut-ofl for a gas main, comprising a valve in the main, means tending to close the valve, a lever acting member and means for manually disengaging the elewill bend and thus effect a release ott'he tions.

tor opening the valve, a latch for releasably engaging the member-to hold itgwith the valve in open position, a thermally res SPOIISlVG'BlGIHGDb for releasably engaging the latch to hold it"in its operative position,

merit from the latch. 7

11. A safety cut-ofi'tor a gas main, comprising a valve in the main, meanstending to close'the valve, a lever acting member :fio-r opening the .valve', a latch for releasably engaging the member to hold 1 it with the a valve in an open position, a thermally responsive element for 'releasably engaging the latch to hold it ini' ts operative position, and means for mam-rally disengaging the element 'fromthe latch, said means comprising a flexible element extending to and adapted to becontrolled' from a point remote from the valve "12. The combination ofa. valve,means tending to close-the same, means for rele-aa :a blyholding the valve open including a theri-nally responsive element which upon bemg subjected to "a predetermined temperature,

valveholding means, and manually operative means for mechanically bending the element to edtecti tih e release oat thc valve holding means.

13. The combination of a valve, means tending to close the same, means for releasably holding the valve open including a thermally responsive element which upon being subjected to a predetermined temperature, Will bend and thus effect a release of the valve holding means, and; a manually operative cam acting device for bending the element irrespective of temperature condi- 14. The combination of a valve, means tending to close the same, means for releasably holding the valve open including a thermally responsive element which upon' being subjected to a predetermined temperature, will bend and thus effect a release of the valve holding means, and a spring member associated with the element adapted to be manually operated for bending the same to mechanically release the valve holding means.

15. The combination including a yieldingly closable valve, a lever acting member for opening the valve, a latch engageable with the member for holding it with thel valve in an open position, a thermally responsive element normally maintaining the latch in its member holding position and adapted to release the latch from said posi' tion at an abnormally high temperature, and I means, operative by a. movement of the member to its valve opening position for restoring the latch to its member holding position. V

16. The combination including a yield ingly 'closable valve, a lever actingamember for opening the valve, latch engageable with the 'member for holding it vvith the 'valve in an open position, a thermallyrerestoring the latch to its member holding position, and means, including said element, for manually effecting the release of, the n1e1nber.

17. A safety out out for gas mains com risin in combination a normall 0 en valve in the main, manually operative means extendlng to a point remote from theevalve for effecting a closing of the valve, and

thermostatically operative means for effect- 7 ing a closing of the valve, said thermostatically operative means being rendered operative at a degree of temperature which 1s higher than normal room temperaturebut lower than that Whichvvould fuse any ofits parts. V r a a l8. Azsafety cut out for gas mains comprising, in combination, a normally open valve in the main, manually operative means it m eage for effecting a closing ofr the valve, ther mostatically; operative l'neansifor effecting a closing of the valve, said thermostatically operative means i "being rendered" operative at a degreeof temperature which is higher p thannormal room temperature but lower thanithat which would fuse any of its parts,

and ,means for adjusting the thermostaticalf 1y operated means vvhe'rebyitmay be caused if to operate atany desired degree of temperature Withinsaid mentioneda ran e of tem- Y b i.

perature. a q .n n 19. A safety out off for gas mains comprising, in combination, a, normally open 7 extending to a point remote from the valve for efiiectlng a clos ng of the valve, and

valve in the main, manually operative means thermostatically operative means for effecting closing of the valve,-said thermostaticall-y operativemeans,,beingrendered operativeat a degree oftemperature which is higher than normal room temperature but lowerthanthatwhich Would fuse any of its parts, said thermostatically operative means including a strip of birmetal whichibends 1 When subjected to variations in temperature.

a In e im y "wh eef 1 a i i y S a tur'e. 1 BIGHARD H.

sHAD IcK. 1 f 

